Orlando FreeFall tower will be removed

I think Glenward Caverns closed the mine shaft ride didn’t they? Even though, technically the cause of death wasn’t ride malfunction or design flaw.

Vater:

Where is this park? Asking for a friend.

Korea.

I believe Glenwood Caverns is re-opening the drop ride, however with different theming and some safety mods.

There are plenty of examples of people dying/injured while riding where it was not the ride's fault, but faulty or erroneous operation and the ride opening again. Obvious examples include Raven, Smiler, SROS (The man with one leg incident.) Not sure if NTG counts.

It would seem to me (But what do I know?) that if the Drop Tower death was caused by an illegal modification and it can be proven that the ride was otherwise perfectly safe, that it should be allowed to operate again, ala Dollywood apparently. Like I said earlier, no doubt the Orlando Park wants to remove it from their property/image/reputation, but I see no reason another park couldn't operate it safely. Of course, there would always be that aura around it, and yes, people would know. They always know.

Tommytheduck:

there would always be that aura around it

Translation: upcharge attraction.

BrettV:
Which leads to the question to ask 100% objectively: Is there any reason the ride can't continue to safely operate with restraints/seats that have not been adjusted?

No. There is nothing wrong with the ride (except for those four seats...) and the problems that the ride does have can be easily fixed. I also suggest that the concern for accommodating larger riders could also be solved by adding a second switch on each seat and disabling the tilt mechanism if the restraint can't be pulled down to the lower position. But that's just my opinion.

I feel like if the ride was anywhere other than Orlando, it wouldn't be coming down. But at the same time, will any other park/park company be able to purchase and build it as a new attraction without the media spinning it as "xxx Park is rebuilding the deadly Orlando Free Fall. Is it safe?"

It might be necessary to send it overseas to avoid any press fallout. But take the big decoration off the top and don't mention that it used to be in Orlando, and...who needs to know that it is the same ride? More important, it will have a new owner who will hopefully follow the manufacturer's instructions, and might even get the manufacturer to give them a specification for where the restraint go switch is to be set.

This operator has demonstrated to the public that they cannot be trusted to operate this ride. Even though they have learned their lesson and so forth, trust in this operator with this ride is gone. Thing is, the public have no idea who that operator is. If they sold out to a new operator, nobody would know that anything is different. Most people have no idea that the operator also runs several other rides in the area, and apparently those rides are still doing fine. So a new independent ride on that site is in order, something that at least appears to be operated by someone else. Even if it really isn't. Everything about the situation now is about appearances, not reality.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.